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Gunboats Trivia Quiz

Throughout history small vessels have often flown the flag for their nations, here are some questions about some of these ships.

A multiple-choice quiz by mortifer. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mortifer

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
176,390

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
513

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What class name was given to the first Crimean gunboats built by the Royal Navy in 1854? Hint

Swift

Hunter

Sure

Gleaner

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Question 2 of 10

2. The CSS Arkansas fought on the Mississippi but what was she? Hint

Monitor

Commerce Raider

Ironclad Ram

Battleship

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Question 3 of 10

3. Commodore Josiah Tattnall, CSN, was like many not allowed to re-enter the USN and fell into poverty. Who raised a fund to rescue him? Hint

Officers of the Royal Navy

Officers of the United States

Officers of the Confederacy

The Daughters of the Revolution

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Question 4 of 10

4. The novel "The African Queen" was inspired by Royal Navy gunboats on Lake Tanganyika 1915-1916. True or false?

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who won the 'Mystery VC'? Hint

Sub-Lieutenant John Hampshire, RN

Lieutenant Augustus Agar, RN

Commander CC Dobson, RN

Captain Arthur Snaggs, RN

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which USN Gunboat was sunk on 11th December 1937 by Japanese aircraft? Hint

USS Panay

USS Long Island

USS Essex

USS Broke

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Question 7 of 10

7. HMS Ladybird slipped into which heavily defended Italian Port? Hint

Tobruk

Bardia

Taranto

Pola

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which destroyer sped to HMS Amethyst's rescue? Hint

HMS London

HMS Aphid

HMS Consort

HMS Battleaxe

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Question 9 of 10

9. American forces revived this type of small vessel for service in Vietnam? Hint

Corsair

Commerce Raider

Frigate

Monitor

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1916 the German Cruiser Konigsberg was sunk by which British monitors? Hint

HMS Murat & HMS Terror

HMS Ney & HMS Soult

HMS Severn & HMS Mersey

HMS Lord Roberts & HMS Lord Nelson

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What class name was given to the first Crimean gunboats built by the Royal Navy in 1854?

Answer: Gleaner

The Gleaner class were wooden vessels. The class weighed 216 tons and could make 8kts with its single screw 60hp reciprocating engine. Supply of these gunboats outstripped demand.

2. The CSS Arkansas fought on the Mississippi but what was she?

Answer: Ironclad Ram

Arkansas had two screws while many gunboats only had the single. Her 10 guns could be relied upon while her engines were (even at her launch) unreliable.

3. Commodore Josiah Tattnall, CSN, was like many not allowed to re-enter the USN and fell into poverty. Who raised a fund to rescue him?

Answer: Officers of the Royal Navy

Tattnall had assisted a Royal Navy gunboat in 1859 with the comment 'Blood is thicker than water'. These would not be the only times that John Bull and Cousin Jonathan assisted each other.

4. The novel "The African Queen" was inspired by Royal Navy gunboats on Lake Tanganyika 1915-1916. True or false?

Answer: True

Two small British gunboats were brought across country to face three German vessels that stood unopposed upon the lake. The German presence had shifted the balance of power away from the Allies.

5. Who won the 'Mystery VC'?

Answer: Lieutenant Augustus Agar, RN

This was won while commanding CMB4 during the Intervention in Russia 1919. On the night of 17th June CMB4 was responsible for sinking the Bolshevik cruiser Oleg.

6. Which USN Gunboat was sunk on 11th December 1937 by Japanese aircraft?

Answer: USS Panay

The survivors of the USS Panay and her convoy were rescued by the Gunboats HMS Bee and HMS Ladybird, who were also patrolling the Yangtse. Two Japanese gunboats arrived shortly after 'to give aid'.

7. HMS Ladybird slipped into which heavily defended Italian Port?

Answer: Bardia

This piece of cheek and the 25 min bombardment, did nothing to aid Italian morale in North Africa. The Destroyer HMAS Waterhen provided covering fire for the withdrawal.

8. Which destroyer sped to HMS Amethyst's rescue?

Answer: HMS Consort

Nothing like HMS Consort's dash at 29kts had ever been seen on the Yangtse before. This, plus her seven White Ensigns and three Union Jacks, must have made quite a sight. HMS Consort was forced to withdraw under heavy Communist fire from field and AT guns.

9. American forces revived this type of small vessel for service in Vietnam?

Answer: Monitor

Although the Vietnam monitors were more powerful, any sailor from the Civil War would have recognized the vessels for what they were. They formed part of the Riverine Defence Force.

10. In 1916 the German Cruiser Konigsberg was sunk by which British monitors?

Answer: HMS Severn & HMS Mersey

On 11th July 1916 the Konigsberg was finally sunk by the 6in guns of HMS Severn and HMS Mersey. The Konigsberg affair was used as the basis for the novel "Shout at the Devil".

Source: Author mortifer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Stillman before going online.
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